Before anything else, we all know what today is. Let us not let amorous emotions fill our hearts and empty our brains as there will be consequences. To the unattached, and especially to the wedded but irresponsibly adventurous, you need to be sure you’re aware of what you’re doing when you have your sausages between buns. Things could get complicated if you’re not sure and ready. Remember, babies are sexually transmitted.
Yes, it’s the second month of the year, the love month, and most of us had moved on from our resolutions that were never meant to be fulfilled. We could now be lounging in our favorite haunts and letting the calories slowly creep into our system and unconsciously add girth and weight. And after we had indulged in the day of hearts, we get alarmed when gifts from our special someone gets more than form fitting that we can’t get it past our throats.
Health professionals suggested on walking, the simplest form of exercise where we can do it almost anywhere and all we need is a decent pair of sneakers and garments that draws sweat away from the body. Yes, exercising is also feeling comfortable although looking good is a plus. Ergo, you can hike like a walking billboard of your favorite apparel company.
A simple thing as walking has many benefits. Experts say that at least 8 kilometers a week does wonders to our bodies. A pace of 3km per hour for 30 minutes every day lowers the risk of stroke and heart attack by up to 40 percent. Getting the heart rate up strengthens our tickers and lowers blood pressure. Walking farther and faster give more benefits.
Experts say that 10,000 steps a day should be the target. That’s 8 kilometers of daily walking and it actually means your accumulated daily total. But if you’re physically fit, you can do the 10k steps as your morning routine. Brisk walking is cardio exercise. Doing it at least 30 minutes a day cuts the risk of serious diseases like cancer.
Diabetics like me will benefit because the hormone insulin gets the sugar out of the bloodstreams and brings it to our cells to be used as energy. It lowers complications related to diabetes such as nerve damage and kidney troubles. In doing so, it helps lessen maintenance meds dosage as the sugar levels had been controlled. Experts suggest to diabetics to have a 10-minute walk after each meal. So when going out to eat, park your vehicles at least 10 minutes away from the restaurant.
150 minutes a week of exercise is recommended to raise our heartbeats. If we want to lose weight, health experts say to double time. It might seem too much for us but 300 minutes a week is only 43 minutes daily. If we’re up to it, the same experts say that 20 minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT) burns as much calories – a 20-second sprint and a minute of recovery walk. HIIT jumpstarts the body to burn more fat.
In a scientific study at Stanford University, two groups of people were asked to do a 90-minute walk in either an urban setting or in a wooded and grassy location. Results showed that nature walkers had less activity in an area of the brain that triggers depression. City dwellers tend to have mood disorders compared to those living in the country.
Since walking is a weight-bearing exercise, they stress our bones that lead them to make more cells and become solid. Joint fluids move around when we’re active and they give nutrients and oxygen to our joints and cartilage which prevents friction that causes pain.
A slimmer body means less pressure on our joints. Losing 5 percent of our body weight already makes a big difference. Losing 10 pounds removes 40 pounds of pressure on our knees and ankles. The extra weight contains chemicals that can damage joints and tissues over time. Getting rid of excess baggage prevents the arrival of arthritis.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s put on our trendy gears and do the walk./PN
